NEIL LENNON has the biggest squad in Scottish football – for which the Celtic boss is mightily grateful.

The injury toll this season has been reflective of the number of high-intensity games they have had to play, both domestically in their pursuit of a league and cup double, and in a Champions League campaign which has brought millions to the club, and credit back to Scottish football.

Losing players along the way is an accepted price which has to be paid for such involvement, and Lennon neither expects nor seeks any sympathy along the way.

However, as the Hoops head into the final lap of this marathon season, the wear and tear is once again showing.

As Lennon points out, they have built a big and robust squad to cope with such moments.

But when the problems accumulate all in the one area of the side, it does stretch them.

Three weeks ago, they had to go north to play Ross County without a single recognised full- back available, forcing the manager to start with a back three.

Central defence has been another area put under severe strain by the lack of available bodies, while a shortage of men to operate in the wide areas has also caused the manager to be inventive on occasions this season.

Now it is midfield which is feeling the strain with Kris Commons joining the walking wounded at the weekend when Beram Kayal was pushed into him, causing the Scotland man – Celtic's best player in recent weeks – to leave the field with ankle-ligament damage which is still to be assessed.

Victor Wanyama also departed the action early at St Mirren Park, the victim of a red card brandished by referee Bobby Madden.

Celtic will appeal the dismissal. But if this is not successful, Wanyama – just back from a one-game ban and a hamstring injury – will be ruled out of Saturday's SPL game against Hibs and the Scottish Cup semi-final against Dundee United the following weekend.

With Scott Brown already out of action for the next month, at least, following surgery on his adductor problem, the once well-stocked midfield is suddenly looking short on options when Lennon wants to be fielding his strongest-possible team to ensure the silverware in their sights gets into their grasp.

Which is why the imminent return of James Forrest – who has not played since limping off against Juventus on March 6 – is so warmly welcomed by the manager.

Mikael Lustig, who can operate in a number of positions, is also on the comeback trail.

But it is the prospect of having Forrest's flair and pace available again which brings a smile to the face of the Hoops boss.

Lennon said: "We have a number of injuries to cope with, but we have got a squad to cope. Hopefully we will have James Forrest and Mikael Lustig fit for next week.

"I hope we have James back for the game against Hibs on Saturday or the Scottish Cup semi-final the following weekend. He is a huge loss to us and the way we like to play."

Forrest's ability to create chances by taking on opponents and using his speed to turn defence into attack can't be matched by anyone else at the club.

Likewise, Commons' effectiveness playing in an advanced midfield role, operating in the hole behind the main strikers, has made him a potent weapon in the Hoops' armoury.

He opened the scoring at Paisley and the champions lost a lot of their edge after he had to leave the field.

If fears of ligament injury are founded, he would face several weeks out, which would make Forrest's return even more timely, as Lennon explained.

"We will just have to see how Kris is over the next week or so," said the manager.

"Maybe we don't have anyone who can play in that position who is as good as Kris at the minute.

"James is probably the nearest we have. So we just have to keep our fingers crossed we can have both of them for the game against Hibs."

Lennon believes it would not just be him who would receive a lift from seeing Forrest's name back on the teamsheet.

The fans would respond, as would the 21-year-old's team-mates, who Lennon concedes are in need of some kind of pick-me-up.

He said: "I feel that a few of them seem to have tailed off. I wasn't happy about some of the performances on Saturday.

"But they showed plenty of discipline and work-rate, so I am not going to be critical of the team on a day like that."

Discipline has been a key factor in Celtic's season, which made the dismissal of Wanyama – the first red card shown to any Celtic player in the league this season – all the more galling to Lennon.

"I think we have had the best disciplinary record in the SPL for the three years we have been in charge," he said.

"And we are very proud of that. We are doing it the right way.

"So, when you get decisions like the one on Saturday, it is completely out of left field."

Being reduced to 10 men when holding only the slenderest of leads, on top of losing the influential Commons, tested the resolve of a side which has now failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last six matches.

The controversial penalty awarded when Esmael Goncalves went down outside the area allowed Paul McGowan to equalise from the spot.

But while Lennon considers it a point gained in the pursuit of the title, given all the hurdles and handicaps they had to overcome, he has left his players in no doubt they must return to the standard they set when they pulled themselves clear of the pack earlier in the season.

"We have a bit of work to do," is his assessment. "I believe we can play better.

"I put a strong team out, so I was disappointed with some facets of our play.

"But, in the end, I was satisfied."